Improvement in calash or folding tops for carriages



1. GOGSWELL; Jr

Carriage-Top,

Patented Feb. 24, I863.

Yiizzefiaf [72mm far. i425 m N, PETERS, PKOTO-LITHOGRAFHER. WASHINGTON.D O.

, turn freely therein.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IRA GOGSW ELL, JR., OF EARLVILLE, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT lN CALASH 0R FOLDING TOPS FOR CARRIAGES, dc.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 37,734, dated February24, 1863.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, IRA COGSWELL, Jr., of Earlville, in the county of LaSalle and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Galash or Folding Tops for WVheel-Vehicles and Sleighs and I dohereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the same, reference being had to theaccompanyingdrawings, making a part of this specification, in which-Figure 1 is a side sectional "iew of my invention, taken in the line oras, Fig. 2; Fig. 2, a back view of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the twofigures.

To enable those skilled in the art to fully understand and construct myinvention, I will proceed to describe it.

A represents the body of a light wagon, B the seat, and C thedash-board. These parts may be constructed in the usual way, andtherefore do not require a minute description.

On the upper part of the back a of the seat there is placed a rod orshaft, D, which is fitted in suitable bearings, b b, and allowed to Theends of the shaft D are bent so as to form arms EE, which are at rightangles to the shaft D and parallel with the sides of the body A. Thefront ends of these arms E E are connected by jointed bars F F with thefront parts of the sides 0 of the seat B, the lower ends of the bars Fbeing connected to the sides of the seat by pivotbolts (1. The bars Fare jointed at about their centers, the joints 6 being so formed as toadmit of said bars folding backward. The upper ends of the bars F areattached to the front ends of the arms E by pivot-bolts f.

G G G G represent four bows, which may be constructed of wood and in thesame manner as the bows of an ordinary calash or folding carriage orwagon top. The lower ends of these bows are provided with irons 9, allof which, at each side of the top, are fitted on a common pivot or bolt,h, and these bolts pass through the front end of the arm E. The

bows form the frame of the top, and they have straps H attached to them,to prevent them spreading beyond a certain distance from each other.These straps, at their back ends, are

attached to the shaft D.

I I represent two jointed bars, the lower ends of which are connected bypivot-bolts M with the arms E E, the upper ends of said bars beingconnected by pivot-bolts j j with the bow G. The joints 7c of the bars Iare so formed that said bars may fold backward.

The bowsG and G are connected at each side by jointed bars J J, thejoints lof said bars being so formed as to admit of the-bars J foldingupward.

From the above description it will be seen that by folding the bars I Ibackward and folding the bars J J upward the bows G G G G may be broughtin contact with each other, and turned down parallel with the arms E E,and that the latter, by folding back the bars .F F, may be let down uponthe sides of the seat B, as shown in red in Fig. 1. WVhen the top is inthis position, it does not form any incumbrance whatever, and the viewfrom the seat is unobstructed all around, equally so as if the seat werenot provided with a top. In order to raise the top, the arms E E arefirst lifted, as shown in blue tint in Fig. 1, the bars F supporting thesame, and the bows G G G G are then spread out, the jointed bars I I J Jretaining them in proper position. If it should be necessary for theoccupant of the seat to be better protected in front than the top inthis position is capale of doing, the bars F F are folded backward, andhooks K, which are attached to each side of the seat by joints or pivotsm, are fitted in any of a series of holes, n, in the arms E E. By thisarrangement the front part of the top may be adjusted more or lessforward, as shown in blue outline in Fig. 1.

The bows or frame of the top may be covered in the usual manner, and thelower ends of the jointed bars I I may be provided with levers L, toadmit of said bars being manipulated at the inner sides of the top.

By this invention a strong and durable top is obtained, one that will befirm or not liable to rattle, and, on account of the comparatively greatscope of its adjustment, far preferable to the ordinary tops in use.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, 1's

The combination of the inclined arms E E, hooks K, and folding bars F Fwith the bars I J, bows G G G G, and seat B, all in the manner hereinshown and described.

lRA OOGSWELL, JR. Witnesses:

RUssELL A. GAIN, ASA KELsEY.

